The New York Mets narrowly defeated the Atlanta Braves 10-9 on Sunday, surviving a late rally that threatened to erase a seven-run lead. Rookie right-hander Nolan McLean, who had a shaky first inning, settled down to pitch effectively through six innings, earning his second win in games started on the current road trip.
Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park.
The Mets, who have struggled offensively for much of the season, managed to build a significant lead before a dramatic ninth inning. After allowing three runs in the first inning, McLean held the Braves scoreless for the next five innings, finishing his outing with five hits, one walk, and five strikeouts.
Atlanta took an early 3-1 lead in the first inning, with Michael Harris II driving in two runs on a single and Mauricio Dubón adding another RBI. An errant pickoff attempt by McLean contributed to an unearned run in the same inning.
The Mets responded in the second inning. After A.J. Ewing hit a solo home run, Luis Torrens walked and Brett Baty doubled. Francisco Lindor's RBI single tied the game at 3-3, and Juan Soto followed with a two-run single, giving the Mets a 5-3 advantage. Soto now has 43 RBIs this season.
Tyrone Taylor extended the Mets' lead with a home run in the ninth inning, his second consecutive game with a blast. This was followed by two-run doubles from Bo Bichette and Jared Young, pushing the lead to 10-3.
However, the Braves mounted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Reliever Huascar Brazobán allowed five runs before being removed, with Drake Baldwin hitting a grand slam. Another run scored before Devin Williams was brought in to close the game. Williams secured the save by striking out Dominic Smith with the tying run on third base and the winning run on second, ending the game with a 10-9 final score.
This victory marked only the third win for the Mets in their last 15 games. The team holds a 3-3 record against the Braves this season, despite their overall struggles. The Mets will aim to secure a series split on Monday before returning home for the stretch leading up to the All-Star break.